Four Academy Affiliate Players Selected To Attend Generation Adidas International Programs
The Generation Adidas International program is an organization that was created to connect grassroots soccer to overseas professional clubs with a goal of becoming the leader of international youth development. Every year Generation Adidas International tasks directors from top Adidas clubs throughout the country to nominate their best boys or girls to attend these premier experiences. Nominees are selected based on positional needs and qualification. This year, another group of Academy Affiliate players were selected to attend. Congrats to the four Academy Affiliate players selected for this experience: Ethan McCormick (Sporting Blue Valley), Zaid Sibaai (Sporting Wichita), Trey McKee (Sporting Blue Valley) and Vitor Geromel (Sporting Wichita).
Ethan McCormick and Zaid Sibaai both attended the Real Madrid Foundation Select Program in Madrid, Spain while both Trey McKee and Vitor Geromel attended the AFC Ajax Select Program in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
These Academy Affiliate players all attended their respective programs this year from August 10 – 18. Each program lasted 8 days and included 6-7 training sessions and 2 games against local top academy teams along with an option to attend a professional game while abroad. Additionally, players had the opportunity to receive individual assessments from club coaches, tour the famous stadiums in their respective locations and go on guided tours of the cities.
Vitor Geromel quoted, “My experience was unforgettable. To train with one of the best academies in the world was a once in a lifetime experience. Some things I can bring to my club are the different ways of practicing, of shooting, of dribbling. The different styles of play. The new techniques and just knowing what it takes to get to that really high level.”
Zaid Sibaai also quoted, “Being selected for the Generation Adidas Select International program was an amazing experience! We trained daily with Real Madrid Academy Technical staff at Real Madrid City; first class facilities that were unlike anything I have seen before. While training with the Real Madrid Coaches I learned some new techniques and drills that I hope to share with my team, these are the same drills and techniques taught at Real Madrid Academy. It was also interesting to see the different styles of play from highly talented players and teams from different countries, and how we might be able to incorporate some of those things into our own game. The opportunity to train with top level players from all over the U.S., as well as playing in an International tournament against top academy teams from Spain, Canada and Japan, was an experience I will never forget.”
For more information about the Generation Adidas International Program please visit generationadidasinternational.com. For more information on Academy Affiliates or Sporting KC Youth Soccer, please visit https://sportingkcyouth.com/ and follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.